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Department of
Mineral Sciences
Scientists in the Department of Mineral Sciences seek to understand the evolution of the Earth and Solar System by studying samples from environments ranging from the mantle to mine drainages, from volcanic arcs to the asteroid belt. The department is home to world-class collections of rocks, minerals, meteorites, and gems, as well as the instruments our scientists use to study these specimens in detail.
Using the Collections
Our collection of over 600,000 specimens is available for study by researchers worldwide. Find specimens and request a loan using the links below.

Instrumentation
Seminar Schedule
Date | Title | Speaker |
---|---|---|
Feb 6 | What we know & don’t know about 1I/ʻOumuamua, the 1st detected Interstellar object in the Solar System | Carey Lisse JHU Applied Physics Lab |
Feb 13 | No seminar (Tuscon Gem & Mineral Show) | |
Feb 20 | No seminar (scheduled seminar moved to Feb. 27) | |
Feb 27 | Using Seismo-Infrasonic Observations to Quantify Eruptive Processes | Kathleen McKee Carnegie DTM |
Mar 6 | Title TBA | Megan Newcombe Carnegie DTM |
Mar 13 | Title TBA | Michael Walter Carnegie GPL |
Mar 20 | No seminar (Lunar & Planetary Science Conference) | |
Mar 27 | Title TBA | Diana Roman Carnegie DTM |
Apr 3 | Title TBA | Daniel Viete Johns Hopkins University |
Seminars are held on the fourth floor of the east wing of NMNH and run from 10 to 11 a.m. unless otherwise noted. Smithsonian personnel who are not members of the department can buzz in at the entrance to the department in the fourth floor elevator lobby prior to 10 a.m. Visitors without SI badges should call the department from the visitor services office, located at the 10th and Constitution Ave entrance to the museum, by dialing Phyllis McKenzie at x31808 or Ioan Lascu at x31815.